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Cubs may not finalize bullpen until next weekend

9/29/12: Rafael Dolis gets Jake Elmore to ground out to escape a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh inning

By Carrie Muskat
/
MLB.com |

MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs may not finalize their bullpen until the last exhibition games in Houston, manager Dale Sveum said Saturday.

Four pitchers -- Rafael Dolis, Hisanori Takahashi, Cory Wade and Zach Putnam -- are vying for one opening. Dolis has been bothered by a blister and not pitched since March 17. Takahashi is the only lefty in the mix.

Sveum said he doesn't need to see the pitchers go in back-to-back games. There is no favorite.

"It's completely undecided now," Sveum said. "We'll sit down and weigh all the options and everything, and the teams [they're facing] and durability. All that stuff comes into play."

The truck leaves Mesa on Wednesday for Chicago. Sveum has tried to have all roster decisions finalized by then. The Cubs will play the Astros in two exhibition games Friday and next Saturday at Minute Maid Park.

"In these kind of situations, unfortunately, you might not be able to make those decisions because the truck is leaving," Sveum said.